The Combined Graduate Level Exam is conducted in 3 Parts namely 1st Tier consists of a written exam, similarly the 2nd Tier consist of a Written Exam and the third being a Personal Interview. The CGL 1st Tier assesses the applicants on 5 parameters namely General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Awareness, Numerical Aptitude and English Comprehension. The marks allotted to each section and the numbers of Questions are 50 each. In the 2nd Tier the parameters that students are assessed on are their Arithmetic Ability and English Language and Comprehension. With the exam round the corner, most students look for tips that can assist them in their preparation in view of this here are some tips that can assist students in their preparation.

Tip 1. General Intelligence and Reasoning: this section comprises of verbal and non – verbal questions on analogies, similarities and differences, spatial visualization, spatial orientation, problem solving, analysis, judgement, decision making, visual memory, discrimination, observation, relationship concepts, arithmetical reasoning and figural classification, arithmetic number series, non-verbal series, coding and decoding, statement conclusion, syllogistic reasoning etc. Students ought to ask their W/ H questions while reading a passage, in order to solve this section. They need to practice difficult reasoning puzzles from mock papers and books on reasoning. Solving puzzles from popular puzzle books available in bookstores will also help. Focus on lengthy puzzles on distribution involving lots of variables. Apart from these aspects they also need to practice problem figures and mirror images. The best way to crack this section is to practice going through the mock Combined Graduate Level examination papers.

Tip 2. General Awareness: to be able to crack this section, your knowledge about the recent happenings in India and its surrounding Countries is important.

Information about awards and honours (Literature, Sports, Service and Films) and current affairs (December 2012 – October 2013)

Reading newspapers, magazines (past issues from January 2012), journals, business and real estate supplements in newspapers

Watch Educational channels that will boost your general knowledge

to improve your knowledge of India visit www.india.gov.in as it has information about the latest happenings in the country

pay attention to the main events in the corporate world

Information about organizations /associations like the UN and its associate agencies such as ASEAN , SAARC , NATO , BRICS etc.

knowledge about the stocks and GK questions like Important National and International celebrations and dates, countries, capitals, currencies, inventions and discoveries in science.

Tip. 3 Numerical Aptitude: these questions are designed to test the candidate’s ability on the appropriate use of numbers and number sense. The other questions are based on the computation of whole numbers, decimals, fractions and relationships between numbers. It will also test the applicants sense of order among numbers, ability to translate from one name to another, sense or order of magnitude, estimation or prediction of the outcome of computation, selection of an appropriate operation for the solution of real life problems and knowledge of alternative computation procedures to find answers. The questions would also be based on arithmetical concepts and relationship between numbers and not on complicated arithmetical computation (the standard of the questions will be of 10+2 level). Therefore it is essential to practice as many problems as you can to get acquainted with the types, formulas and form shortcuts for the same.

Tip 4. Arithmetic Ability: This section includes questions on problems relating to Number Systems, Computation of Whole Numbers, Decimals and Fractions and relationship between Numbers, Fundamental Arithmetical Operations, Percentage, Ratio and Proportion, Average, Interest, Profit and Loss, Discount, Use of Table and Graphs, Menstruation, Time and Distance, Ratio and Time etc. Therefore it is essential to practice as many problems as you can to get acquainted with the types, formulas and form shortcuts for the same.

Tip 5. English Language and Comprehension: this section assesses the applicants command over the English language. The questions are designed to test the candidate’s understanding and knowledge of the English Language and will be based on error recognition, fill in the blanks (using verbs, preposition, articles etc), Vocabulary, Spellings, Grammar, Sentence Structure, Synonyms, Antonyms, Sentence Completion, Phrases and Idiomatic use of Words, etc. apart from these topics the question will include passages and comprehension of passages also. (The standard of the questions will be of 10+2 level).

Grammar: A useful tool to improve your language skills is by referring to Wren & Martin. This book is a perfect guide for improving your grammar as well as your comprehension skills because it has explanations, exercises and examples for each topic. It also comes with a Key that you can use to verify if your answers are correct.

Reading and Comprehension: ensure that you have a copy ofthe Wren & Martin whether in print or in pdf forms because it has very good examples for improving your comprehension skills. It has sample passages that contain questions on most of the aspects covered in the English section.

Keep both a Dictionary and a Thesaurus with you: to improve your vocabulary it is preferable that you maintain a diary or a book to jot down words that you are unfamiliar with when you come across them as you read. Ensure that you have a dictionary and a thesaurus beside you at all times in any form you are comfortable with either in print, online, software. Look up words that you don’t understand and explore them by following the points listed below:

Note Down the Words or Phrases used

Try to use it in a sentence the same day

Look for the Prefixes (un, in) and Suffixes (al, ion, ness)

Explore the verb, noun, adjective and adverb forms

Find Antonyms and Synonyms

Pay attention to the pronunciations of words given beside the word

Access an online dictionary and hear the pronunciation of the word through the speakers or learn the pronunciation from a dictionary

Practice the 4 Core skills: if you practice these four skills namely Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening then you will be able to gain that confidence. You need to read English books and newspapers, listen to English news and watch English sitcoms, movies with english subtitles if possible, converse with people who have a good command over the English language are some tips that will help you to gain confidence and develop a good command over the English Language. You can visit www.careerfutura.com for more information and tips on the Ways to Improve English Vocabulary and Tips to Improve English for more tips.

Tip 6. Personal Interview: this section will assess the applicant’s personality. Apart from testing the applicant’s personality traits, the interviewer or the panel will also test their academics, self awareness levels and their goals. So make sure you have your answers ready for such type of questions.

Tip 7. Practice: it is essential that students refer to previous years question papers and rely on mock tests, as this will make them familiar with the paper pattern and will give them an idea about the type of questions asked. Thus, students are better prepared for the examination.

Tip 8.Join Coaching classes: this will ensure that students practice regularly and are better prepared because they can resolve the queries that they might have about a particular topic.

Tip 9. Health Matters: it is important to ensure that you get enough rest, eat a balanced diet and most importantly exercise. It is important that you sleep in time, eat properly and exercise, if you wish to perform well in the examinations because both the body and the mind need to rest to function to its maximum potential.

If students follow these tips honestly, they will perform well and their chances of success will increase Higher. For further information about the examination you can visit our sister site www.way2k.com.

The kind of experiences that children have at important stages in their life and the environment within which they have these experiences is what helps in shaping the kind of person they become later in life. Although Family and School Environments together play an important role in the all round development of Children as a whole, nevertheless the kind of people they interact with or their friend’s circle too has an impact on the kind of people they become.

As children grow up they tend to spend more time with their peers because of the commonalities between their peers due to the similarities in their ages. Naturally, their views or thinking, their understanding of things are all along similar grounds therefore they are able to relate to each other better in comparison to their parents or siblings. The conflict that most children face with their siblings and parents are high because of the differences in the age and the thought processes, as compared to their peers. Thus they tend to spend considerable amount of time with like-minded individuals.

Children begin their stepping stones into the social environment from their immediate families; however, as they grow and mature they are introduced to the social world of peers where they spend increasing amounts of time with kids their own age according to Gary Ladd a professor in psychology and Human Development at the Arizona State University. Apart from this, “The types of relationships they form differ from those they have with parents and siblings which teach them unique skills that impact their development. Peer relationships are more balanced and tend to bring similar levels of ability, reasoning and skill to their interactions” says Ladd.

The behaviour of children with their peers is often influenced by what they learn from their immediate family. Children tend to replicate their parents behaviour in an attempt to be just like them; at a tender age they pick up almost everything from their parents and siblings through keen observation. Therefore, the behaviour that they display usually mimics what they have seen at home. For instance if parents engage in coercive behaviour, their children are more likely to do the same; likewise, if parents teach their children empathy, they are more likely to take their friends’ feelings into consideration.

Apart from relating easily to each other they also acquire a wide range of behaviours, skills, attitudes and experiences that influence their behaviour and their perception of things. Their experiences with peers affect their social, emotional and cognitive functioning beyond the influences of family, school and neighbourhood.

Amongst the many experiences they have they also experience peer acceptance and rejection, friendship development, school adjustment, bullying, self-esteem, loneliness and the roles that gender differences, emotions and culture, play in peer relations is learnt as well.

As early as preschool, children are faced which challenges like making a new friend, maintaining existing friendships, fitting into peer groups and avoiding bullies; all of these interpersonal skills require both complex thinking and behavioural skills, according to Ladd and can be developed with peers.

Some of the skills children learn through their peer relationships include assertiveness, conflict management, how to earn respect and control aggression. There have been various studies that indicate how play with peers provides children with important opportunities to discuss feelings, expand their thought processes and knowledge and experiment with language and social roles.

The kind of friend’s circle that they choose is dependent on the environment that they come from such as the family and the neighbourhood they are residing in along with their innate attributes. Therefore you find some kids being motivated to have a few good friends, some who like being a part of large groups while some are naturally aggressive and some are passive.

While having friends is good it also has its drawbacks if the friend circle that your child is interacting with is influencing your child in a negative way rather than positive influences. According to Ladd “Children who are very shy or anxious or if they are overly aggressive often get caught up in bully-victim relationships that have negative impacts on both children. Even children with social difficulties tend to be excluded from everyday peer activities and experience feelings of discomfort, sadness and alienation. Adverse peer experiences can be stressful for children and if persistent, can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression and loneliness.”

Therefore it is essential for parents to monitor the group that their child interacts with on a regular basis, to ensure that they have the appropriate friends. Parents wishing to help their child make the appropriate kind of friends need to sit down with their child and discuss their views and highlight why they think that their child’s friend circle isn’t the appropriate kind, similarly if their child is having problems with making friends they can teach children prosocial peer interaction skills. And to top it all they can teach children forgiveness and empathy and also teach them to be accepting of individual differences. These are the some of the ways that parents can avail of in an attempt to help their child develop appropriate peer relations that have a positive impact on their child’s development, in the long run.

Friendship is the most delightful experience that each one of us is granted. It is a relationship that should be cherished. Friendship if it is the right kind will prove to be a special bond which cannot be easily broken. Although we cannot choose our siblings and relatives we are given the opportunity to choose our friends’ circle or the people whom we wish to interact with. Having a set of friends that we can count on in times of crises or people with whomwe can share our special and important moments in our lives becomes a blessing in disguise at a later time. Even though all this sounds amazing on paper, finding people like these and maintaining the relationship requires mutual understanding, forgiveness, empathy, support, politeness, accepting them as they are, a sharing attitude, never breaching ones trust, maintaining a careful distance, care, love, respect and being able to forget minor differences are some of the qualities that make a simple friendship an everlasting one.

The points that are discussed requires the concerned people to posses ‘mutual interests’ because a friendship if it has to last requires ‘both parties’ to ‘reciprocate the same behaviour’. Besides for any relationship to sustain, it has to follow a two way process.

1. Learn to Empathize: unless and until you are able to understand your emotions and you try to understand your friend’s emotions it will be difficult to become close friends. Remember that unless and until you are living your friend’s life you will never be able to understand how they feel. You can at least try.

2. Learn to accept people as they are: you need to learn to accept your friend as s/he is with their own talents and shortcomings because neither of you are perfect.

3. Understanding and Care: as a friend you need to be understanding of your friend’s situation and necessities. You also need to care and be understanding towards them at all times. Never show an alien attitude towards your friend’s life and family.

4. Support: you need to stand by them during the worst phrases in their lives. You need to let him/her know that you are there if they need anything during crises situations. This is the time your friendship can be mended into an unbreakable bond. If they have made a right decision is it essential that you encourage and motivate them. If they have made a wrong decision your need to guide them in the right direction.

5. Be Polite: in all respects it is important for you to be polite when communicating with them. Your communication patter is what determines whether the relationship will be built or broken. If there are any disagreements you need to clarify them and the best way to do this is by communicating your views about the situation in a polite and justified way. Explain to them the reasons as to why you think the decision or behaviour is inappropriate according to you.

6. Learn to Share: you need to share your happy moments, your joys and success. In simple terms you need to share any kind of experiences with them. However it does not mean that you misuse someone’s liberty especially in terms of money and materialistic things. This helps you to relate to your friend easily but know when to draw the line.

7. Never Breach their Trust: it is important that you do not misuse the information that is conveyed to you with trust. This will break the bond of friendship that was built. You need to be your friend’s confidant.

8. Forget Minor Disagreements: little arguments and conflicts are all part and parcel of a long standing relationship like friendship. Learn to let go of minor differences in opinions because your experiences shape ones view of things.

9. Maintain a Careful Distance: learn to maintain some amount of distance with your friends because they need their space as well. Don’t be Imposing or demanding continuously of your friend.

10. Love and Respect: love and respect are two sides of the same coin because where there is love there is also respect. You need to treat your friend like you would like to be treated. Without respect there wouldn’t be a relationship anyway.

11. Learn to Forgive: you need to learn to forgive your friend at times because they aren’t perfect and nor are you! They too make mistakes just like you but that is not a reason to break the friendship but you do need to know when to draw the line.

If you master these points you will definitely be on your way to developing a long lasting friendship that you can count on in times of need. But remember to be their confidant, don’t betray their trust, treat them with respect and love, overlook minor disagreements, learn to forgive, maintain a careful distance, support them and share your experiences, be polite, be empathetic or sympathetic, understand them while caring and learn to ‘accept them for who they are’ instead of changing them and ensure that ‘the same behaviour is reciprocated by the concerned individuals in the relationship nonetheless’.

Are you Passionate about capturing important moments in life with your camera? Do you often click away photos over casual conversations with friends? Do you often stop to click photos of nature in all of its true beauty? Are you ever ready to click pictures while traveling? Is Photography your Hobby? How about making a career in it? Has this thought ever crossed your mind? Well if you thought of it but settled for something more realistic and it doesn’t seem to be working very well for you, now is probably a good time to rethink your steps? Because if you have a good eye for detail, have creativity and a good imagination, then a career in photography is for you!

Nonetheless, ff clicking pictures in the moment satisfies you or if you adore Nature in all of its glory and wish to capture it then and there, then may be photography is the way to go. Pictures have a way of speaking to you, they remind you of the precious moments in your life, make you laugh, cry at times and have a way of amusing the people involved. They help you remember and relive those moments that you cherish. With the growth in media and the fashion industry, a career in photography has scope. No matter what pictures you take be it wildlife, nature, birds, animals, fashion or simply food etc. there is an equal scope. Besides you can choose from a wide range of options available such as portrait, commercial and industrial, advertising, scientific, fashion, news, nature and wildlife, press, wedding photography and lost more.

Press Photographers or photojournalist: these individuals supply photographs to the National and local press. They should be ready to click photos on different types of subjects. They need to know what makes a good press picture, should have journalistic instincts, be able to write accurate captions, work well with reporters, be quick and should be able to work under difficult conditions.

Nature and Wildlife Photography: it involves taking pictures of forests, flowers, lakes, waterfalls, amazing sunsets and sunrises, floral reefs, landscapes, birds, animals or aquatic creatures. Although pictures of rare species or newly discovered species are in demand. Pictures of nature such as forests, landscapes, waterfalls, amazing sunsets and sunrises, floral reefs, flowers, lakes etc. are also welcomed. These pictures are usually used for calenders or covers or even as desktop wallpapers.

Feature Photography: this involves telling a story in pictures, thus a knowledge of the subject is required. These photographers cover an entire theme or subject with a set of photographs. This type of work is varied leading to assignments at any time and at any place. Be it photographing people at home or life in foreign parts, or schools at work, anything that makes a story. They may work along side with reporters or take independent assignments.

Editorial Photography: these individuals usually work magazines and periodicals. Nearly always work as freelancers. Their main task is to pictorially illustrate what is written in the article or report which needs illustrations.

Commercial or Industrial Photography: these individuals generally take pictures of merchandise, exteriors and interiors of factories, machinery both outdoors as well as indoors which need to be used for company brochures, annual reports, for advertising and selling. They usually take pictures of the factor or the firm hence, they need to make the factory or firm look good.

Portrait or Wedding Photography: they take pictures of either small or large groups such as families, portraits of children, the bride and groom along with their well wishers but focus mainly on the newly wedded couple and their families or the events that follow prier to or post the wedding. They also click pictures of pets, children and families.

Advertising Photography: advertising photographers are either taken by photographic departments of the advertising agency, photographic studios or by freelancers.Most photographers do catalog work while some others do mail order photography work. And are usually given instructions on what they have to photograph. Apart from this also need to suggest ideas from a different angle.

Fashion Photography: fashion photography is generally done by studio specialist or freelancers who are sought after by fashion houses and advertising agencies. They usually work under a fashion expert and can seek employment with fashion houses, designers, fashion journals and news papers. Fashion photography is mainly done in Mumbai and Delhi. This it done mostly by freelancers with sophisticated and well equipped studios. These individuals, apart from working with fashion houses or advertising agencies they also work with models and designers. All in all it is an exciting and glamorous work profile.

Digital Photography: as the name suggests it involves the use of a digital camera. The images are captured on a disk, floppy or directly on a computer. These images are then modified if required. In the conventional way the images were captured on film and then scanned in order to make the desired changes to the image. Thus saving the time and money that goes into scanning images.

Forensic Photography: Police departments employ photographers to take crime scene photos. These photographers document evidence, often using infrared cameras and other technology to help them in their work. In some cases, photographers document scenes even when there are no signs of crime, such as auto accident sites and fire damage. Forensic photographers may spend a portion of their work time testifying in court about what they observed at a crime scene. Forensic photographers must gain training and certification, which requires them to complete an exam.

Art Photography: Art photographers sell their work in art studios, museums and shops. Some sell mass-market prints and posters. Art photography may include still life photography, which captures inanimate objects for use as scenery and in architecture. Art photographers also snap photos for the food industry, where creative, appealing and artistic images are favored. Food photographers often do work for marketing companies, advertising firms, food publications and restaurants.

Scientific Photography: as the name suggests the work involves clicking photographs of research reports and scientific journals.

In order for an individual to pursue a career in photography the aspirant must possess an interest for colors, visuals, imagination and creativity. So don’t limit yourself to clicking pictures at family get – together’s, relatives birthday parties or friends parties, if you like photography and are willing to work in all kinds of settings then what are you waiting for? Go ahead and pursue photography, you know you want to! For more information about photography courses you can visit our sister website www.way2k.com.

The formation of the Indian Civil Services dates back to the British Raj. The Indian Civil Services was established by the British East India Company. Over the years the Indian Civil Services has undergone changes to keep up with the changing times but today it has become complex and broader. In a Country like India with its diversity, having an efficient system with proper management for Administration are important aspects when running a Country therefore, the option of Civil Services comes to the fore.

There are several Competitive examinations or Civil Service Examinations CSAT, UGC, B.Ed/M.Ed, NDA, CDS, AFCAT, TET, Railways, PSU, SSC, Police Department etc. Individuals wishing to pursue a career in the Government Sector are required to clear the Civil Services Examinations (CSE) namely Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT). This examination is conducted in 3 parts; the CSAT, the Civil Service Mains (a written test) and a Personal Interview. A Candidate gets 4 attempts to clear it. The CSAT is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for the selection of candidates of the Civil Service Mains for recruiting candidates in to the various Civil Services of the Government of India.

The career aspects are divided into 3 broad categories and simultaneously there are various opportunities within these categories itself. For recruitment there are 25 Services or Posts namely 3 in the All India Services, 17 in Group A Services and 5 in Group B services.

The services which come within the All India Services are:

Indian Administrative Service (IAS),

Indian Foreign Service (IFS)

Indian Police Service (IPS)

The services which come within Group – A are:

Indian Audit and Accounts Service,

Indian Revenue Service (IRS) (Customs and Central Excise),

Indian Defence Accounts Service,

Indian Postal Service

Indian P & T Accounts & Finance Service

Indian Revenue Service (IRS) Income Tax (I.T.)

Indian Ordnance Factories Service (Assistant Works Manager, Administration)

The IAS officers are responsible for the management of the various administrative departments and their respective functions. Their duties include framing of policies and acting as advisors to the ministers. Apart from this they are also responsible or executing appointed duties given as the officers in charge of the administration of smaller administrative units. The District Magistrate for instance, is in charge of a district and has to look after the law and order situation as well as the administration and the over all development of the area.

Indian Police Service (IPS)

The Indian Police Service is directly responsible for maintaining law and order in the state of India. It is responsible to look after the safety of the citizens of the country. There are various branches and associated departments like the Border Security Force, the Department of Home Guards, the Central Bureau of Investigation, the department of Traffic Control, the Criminal Investigation Department, the Central Reserve Police Force, the Crime Branch, etc. in the Indian Police Service . An IPS officer sometimes works along with an IAS officer of the same district.

Indian Forest Service (IFoS)

An officer of the Indian Forest Service takes care of the vast forest resources of the country. They are also responsible to conserve it and protect it from illegal poacher, loggers, grazers etc.

Indian Foreign Service (IFS)

The Indian Foreign Service is associated with the countries External and Foreign Affairs Ministry. The officials are responsible for the framing of foreign policies as well as maintaining and regulating the Indian embassies in various countries of the world.

Indian Railway Service

The Indian Railway Service is in charge of the huge network of railways in India which is divided into the Indian Railway Traffic Services (IRTS), the Indian Railway Personnel Services (IRPS), the Indian Railway Accounts Services (IRAS) and the Railway Police Service (RPS). The Railway Police Service is responsible for maintaining the security of the whole system and especially the passengers. The Indian Railway Traffic Service deals with the scheduling of trains and the passengers and the freight carried by these trains. The Indian Railway Personnel Service is the branch which deals with the recruitment of the officers and other administrative workers. While the Indian Railway Accounts Services is in charge of looking after the accounts of this vast system. The branches mentioned so far are the non technical branches of the Indian Railways. For the recruitment of the technical staff such as engineers, there is a different entrance test altogether.

For the recruitment of the Indian Railway Service Engineers (IRSE) or the Indian Engineering Services (IES), the UPSE conducts a different examination namely the ‘Engineering Service Examination (ESE)‘. These individuals are responsible for the maintenance of all fixed assets of Indian Railways, i.e. Track, Bridges, Buildings, Roads, Water supply, land etc. In addition to maintenance of existing assets the IRSE engineers are responsible for the construction of new assets such as New lines, Gauge conversion, doubling and other expansion and developmental works in Railways. Apart from these they are also responsible for the safety and punctuality of the Indian Railways (wikipedia).

Indian Postal Service

The Indian postal Service staff looks after the functioning of the country’s postal network including the the telegraph services. Officers start out as Senior Superintendent of Post Offices initially. They can be posted to any part of the country and the central Ministry as well (wikipedia).

Indian Customs and Central Excise Service

As the name suggests, it deals with the custom and excise departments. The former deals with the levying of taxes on things brought into the country whereas the department of excise duties deals with the taxation of goods which are produced in the country (wikipedia).

Audit & Accounts Service

The Audit and Accounts Service department maintains the accounts of all the states of India. There are various specialised branches such as the Indian Defence Accounts Service which deals with the expenditure of the Indian Defence Services. And the Indian civil Accounts Service which falls under the direct administration of the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance (wikipedia).

Indian Information Service (IIS)

The Indian Information Service deals with the transmissions of government media apparatuses like Doordarshan and Prasarbharati. It falls under the purview of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (wikipedia).

Indian Revenue Service (IRS)

The officers of the Indian Revenue Service aid in the assessment and fixing of the rates of income tax and are also responsible for collecting the same. There are branches within it dealing with tax crimes such as evasion of income tax and those which build up statistics (wikipedia).

Growth Prospects

After a candidate is chosen s/he is sent for training. On completion of the training he or she is sent as a probationary officer to serve under the district magistrate or in government schools, secretariats and other posts that involve on the field experience. The positional hierarchy is as follows:

Under Secretary

Director

Joint Secretary

Additional Secretary

Secretary

Cabinet Secretary

In the districts the highest position belongs to the district magistrate and the deputy commissioner is in charge at the divisional stratum. Based on seniority, an officer may be chosen to represent the country at international bodies like the WHO, UNHCR, etc (wikipedia).

Civil Service aspirants who have a desire to serve one’s country and to contribute towards its improvement or development. These individuals should be fine with being posted in any part of the country-even in the remotest of villages without the facilities in the urban area such individuals are perfect for a career in Civil Services (wikipedia). For more information visit www.careerfutura.com.

Individuals wishing to pursue a career in the Government Sector are required to clear the Civil Services Examinations (CSE) namely Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT). Originally the CSAT was called the Civil Service Preliminary Examinations but since 2011 it is now referred to as CSAT. This examination is conducted in 2 parts namely the CSAT and the Civil Service Mains. (a written test and an Interview). The CSAT is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for the selection of candidates of the Civil Service Mains for recruiting candidates in to the various Civil Services of the Government of India.

For recruitment there are 24 Services or Posts namely 3 in the All India Services, 16 in Group A Services and 5 in Group B services. The services which come within the India Services are Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS). The services which come within Group – A are Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise), Indian Defence Accounts Service, Indian Postal Service etc. The services which come within Group-B are Pondicherry Civil Service, Pondicherry Police Service etc. A Candidate gets 4 attempts to clear it and it has 3 sections General Studies and Aptitude Test. For Civil Service aspirants there are a few tips that can help them in their exam preparations.

Tip 1. English Language: this section will be assessing the candidates command over the english language, therefore the questions comprise of analogies, synonyms and antonyms, match the list, idioms, one word for many, fill in the blanks and identifying the various Figures of Speech which is a task for applicants.

Grammar: A useful tool to improve your language skills is by referring to Wren & Martin. This book is a perfect guide for improving your grammar, essay writing skills as well as your comprehension skills because it has exercises and examples for each topic. It also comes with a Key that you can use to verify if your answers are correct.

Reading and Comprehension: you need to grab a copy of the Wren & Martin as soon as possible as it has very good examples for improving your comprehension skills. It has sample passages that contains questions on most of the aspects covered in the English section.

Tip 2. General Studies: it is absolutely essential that applicants gather information on the currentaffairs in the Country. To be able to crack this section, your knowledge about the recent happenings in India and its surrounding Countries is important. So information about Ministers and Portfolios, Abbreviations, Top News in Business, Sports, Culture and Entertainment, Prominent Committees and their Heads, Important National and International celebrations and dates, awards and honours (Literature, Sports, Service and Films) and current affairs (December 2012 – October 2013). Here are some other tips:

Reading newspapers and magazines,

Watch Educational channels that will boost your general knowledge

To improve your knowledge of India visit www.india.gov.in as it has information about the latest happenings in the country

Pay attention to the main events in the corporate world

Information about organizations /associations like the UN and its associate agencies such as ASEAN , SAARC , NATO , BRICS etc.

Knowledge about the stocks and GK questions like countries, capitals, currencies, inventions and discoveries in science.

Tip 3. Aptitude Test: this section assess the applicants on their Reasoning, Numerical and Quantitative abilities.

1. Reasoning Ability: consists of questions based on logical, analytical and critical reasoning therefore they are framed accordingly. So whenever you read a passage don’t forget to put on your thinking cap and ask your W/ H questions as often as possible. Some other Tips are:

Get Acquainted with the paper by practicing as many problems as you can and to remember the types and formulas

Form shortcuts for the same

Students should aim to get marks ranging from 160 – 180 marks in this section alone.

Practice these sections by going through the mock CSAT papers it is the best way to perform well in this section

Tip 4. Personal Interview: this section will assess the applicant’s personality. Apart from testing the applicants personality traits, the interviewer or the panel also test their academics, self awareness levels and their goals. So make sure you have your answers ready for such type of questions.

Tip 5. Choosing Subjects: when choosing subjects students should pick subjects that they prefer as they are more likely to perform well in subjects that they are comfortable. This will not only improve your performance it will also increase you chances of success.

Tip 6. Time Management: I’m sure you’ve come across these words quite often so I assume that you know what they mean by now. Nevertheless, to jog your memory, you need to make use of the time that you have wisely if you wish to perform well. Create a Time Table and plan the time that you have to complete as much of the portion as you can.

Tip 7. Refrain from Procrastination: along similar lines of time management is procrastination. It means that if a task is given it is preferable to begin with the task rather than putting it off for another time and then realising that you should have done the task at the time instead of postponing it for another time. So if you have extra time make sure that you use is wisely.

Tip 8. Practice: it is essential that students refer to previous years question papers and rely on mock tests, as this will make them familiar with the paper pattern and will give them an idea about the type of questions asked. Thus, students are better prepared for the examination.

Tip 9. Join Coaching classes: this will ensure that students practice regularly and are better prepared because they can resolve the queries that they might have about a particular topic.

Tip 10. Health Matters: it is important to ensure that you get enough rest, eat a balanced diet and most importantly exercise. It is important that you sleep in time, eat properly and exercise, if you wish to perform well in the examinations because both the body and the mind need to rest to function to its maximum potential.

If you follow these simple tips, chances are that you will be able to perform well and increase your chances of getting selected for the Civil Service Mains. For more information you can visit our website www.careerfutura.com.

Individuals wishing to develop a career in the Banking Sector have to clear Competitive examination like the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Exam (IBPS). These exams are usually conducted at a government as well as a Private Level. The IBPS exams are usually held in the month of December. The duration of the examination is 2 hours and the marks allotted are 200 in total. The questions are Objective type.

The applicants are assessed along the 5 parameters such as Reasoning, Numerical Ability, General Awareness, Computers and English Language proficiency (verbal, written, grammar). Each of these sections comprise of 40 questions each the marks allotted to each of these sections is 40 in all and each question is allotted 1 mark (40 *1). With the exam round the corner most students tend to look for tips that can help them in clearing the exam well. In light of the need of the hour here are some tips that are based on these parameters.

Tip 1. English Language: this section assess the applicants commond over the language, as this is a language naturally the grammar and comprehension skills are tested. The questions comprise of analogies, synonyms and antonyms, match the list, idioms, one word for many, fill in the blanks and identifying the various Figures of Speech which is a task for applicants.

Grammar: A useful tool to improve your language skills is by referring to Wren & Martin. This book is a perfect guide for improving your grammar, essay writing skills as well as your comprehension skills because it has exercises and examples for each topic. It also comes with a Key that you can use to verify if your answers are correct.

Reading and Comprehension: you need to grab a copy of the Wren & Martin as soon as possible as it has very good examples for improving your comprehension skills. It has sample passages that contain questions on most of the aspects covered in the English section.

Tip 2. Reasoning and Numerical Ability: as the name suggests, this section deals with mathematical operations therefore your basics should be strong. The range of topics that are covered are Coding and Decoding, Syllogisms, Venn Diagrams, Number Series, Work, Time, Speed and Distance problems, Profit and Loss, Ratios and Simple Interest. Therefore it is essential to practice as many problems as you can to get acquainted with the types, formulas and form shortcuts for the same.

Tip 3. General Awareness: to be able to crack this section, your knowledge about the recent happenings in India and its surrounding Countries is important. Since this is a Banking examinatino it is obvious that you need to be familiar with the Banking terminologies, so it is preferable to focus on topics such as Ministers and Portfolios, Abbrevations, Top News in Business, Sports, Culture and Entertainment, Prominent Committees and their Heads. Here are some other tips:

Reading newspapers, magazines (past issues from January 2012), journals, business and real estate supplements in newspapers

visit Business and Real Estate websites

watch Educational channels that will boost your general knowledge

to improve your knowledge of India visit www.india.gov.in as it has information about the latest happenings in the country

pay attention to the main events in the corporate world

information about organizations /associations like the UN and its associate agencies such as ASEAN, SAARC, NATO, BRICS etc.

knowledge about the stocks and GK questions like countries, capitals, currencies, inventions and discoveries in science.

Tip 4. Computers: to crack this section a basic knowledge of computer will suffice. The topics that will be covered in this section are computer parts and their functions, basic internet and email control, MS.Office package (Word, Excel, Power Point etc.) Popular Software names and their usage.

Tip 5. Practice: it is essential that students refer to previous years question papers and rely on mock tests, as this will make them familiar with the paper pattern and will give them an idea about the type of questions asked. Thus, students are better prepared for the examination.

Tip 6. Join Coaching classes: this will ensure that students practice regularly and are better prepared because they can resolve the queries that they might have about a particular topic.

Tip 7.Health Matters: it is important to ensure that you get enough rest, eat a balanced diet and most importantly exercise. It is important that you sleep in time, eat properly and exercise, if you wish to perform well in the examinations because both the body and the mind need to rest to function to its maximum potential.

By following these simple tips, the examination will be easier to crack. But in the mean time remember to “Practice as if you are the worst but Perform as if you are the best !”. For more information about the IBPS you can visit our sister website www.way2k.com.

Students after completing their studies are now ready to spread their wings and fly as they begin their professional experience merely as freshers. Its times like these that having prior knowledge about how one should present themselves that can make all the difference. This will help candidates to be better prepared for what is to come. In this article we will be giving guidelines based on the common mistakes made by budding professionals and we will also highlight the various measures that can be implemented to avoid or rectify mistakes made. In this article we will be covering points like developing a Learning Attitude both at an employer level and on an individual level, picking jobs with learning opportunities, stability factor, managing finances and sharing information.

Develop a Learning attitude (employer level): if you haven’t already then it’s high time you do! Most companies seek individuals who have a learning attitude. This basically means that freshers or individuals should be ever ready to learn; especially in the initial years of their lives. Apart from this it also allows companies to develop the soft skills of the individuals, since most individuals at this point, like it or not possess a basic theoretical knowledge or hard skills rather than practical knowledge. It also shows a positive attitude and reduces the employers work as they are assured that they can give more exposure to such individuals and develop their soft skills. Apart from this most employers are seeking individuals that can perform a number of tasks with efficiency within the prescribed time.

Importance of a Learning Attitude (individual level): a learning attitude by default ensures that the individual develops an open mind which assists the task of learning. It is a known fact that the initial years of one’s life are important ones. Developing a learning attitude is important because most individuals aren’t completely aware of their interests. So spending time learning is preferable before one decides upon what they are interested in and gets settled in it. Since this is the learning stage it is absolutely necessary to learn as much as you can while you still can. Besides you will never know when the information you have gathered over these professional years will come in handy. Nevertheless, the more exposure you have, the more you will learn and you will have an impressive résumé. Apart from this the skill sets that you develop at these stages also increases your chances for success. Developing a leering attitude will also make the monotonous job fun and enjoyable.

Jobs with Learning Opportunities: in view of the points mentioned earlier, it is important to pick jobs that give you plenty of opportunities to learn rather than choosing jobs that pay well. This is an important factor for freshers especially because it gives them exposure to a lot of things that they themselves will benefit from in the long run. It is said, “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value”. This famous quote by none other than Albert Einstein holds true because the more skills you posses the more; your value to the company increases and you have a wide range of options to choose from.

Stability Factor: most freshers tend to leave within a few months of the appointed date of their employment, which is not taken lightly by interviewers. Interviewers usually seek individuals that can assure them that they will be with the company for minimum 6 months to a year. Individuals willing to stay on longer are preferable.

Manage Finance: I’m sureat this time you might be wondering why a point on finances is included. It is no surprise because once individuals start earning they resort to splurging the money earned rather than investing. This is to cultivate the habit of investing due to the new found responsibility of managing the money earned. When it comes to investing the golden rule to follow is to give your investments time to grow. And the best time for investing is the moment you start earning. Though it sound a lot of work it would be wise for budding professionals to think out of the box and prepare themselves for the worst possible case scenario.

Share Information: it is important for individuals to share the information that they have. If this information is useful to you, it is preferable to share this information with your near and dear ones.

Remember that sooner or later any job will become monotonous but the key is to preserve and in the mean time educate yourself about managing money and then a job will not seem so annoying. It will be fun and enjoyable if you develop a learning attitude. In the end all that matters is how you live your life as against what the crowd does? In view of this I would like to quote Steve Jobs, “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and

Intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

There are several Competitive examinations such as Bank PO/ MT/Clerical, Insurance (LIC), Civil Services: CSAT, UGC, B.Ed/M.Ed, NDA, CDS, AFCAT, TET, Railways, PSU, SSC, Police Department. Accordingly these bank exams are Conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (I.B.P.S.) and commonly known as IBPS PO / MT examination or the Common Written Examination (CWE) PO / MT. It is the qualifying exam for Jobs in 19 public sector banks in India. The PO exam is conducted for Probationary Officer/ Management Trainee (MT) posts.

The exam pattern is such that it assess the aplicants on the parameters of Reasoning, English Language, Quantitative Apptitude, General Awareness and Computer Knowledge. The marks allotted are in the range of 50 to 40 marks, hence for the parameters of Reasoning, Quantitative Apptitude the marks allotted to each is 50. Similarly for the General Awareness and the English Lnaguage parameters the marks allotted are 40 each except for the Computer Knowledge Parameter the marks allotted are 20. The duration of the paper is 2hrs and the total marks for this examination is 200. The Reasoning, English Language, Quantitative Apptitude, General Awareness and Computer Knowledge parameters include questions that are Objective Type Multiple Choice Questions. If you are looking for tips to prepare for the IBPS PO exam, then you have come to the right place. Here are a few tips that aspirants can avail of.

Tip 1. Reasoning: the reasoning section consists of questions based on logical, analytical and critical reasoning therefore they are framed accordingly. So whenever you read a passage don’t forget to put on your thinking cap and ask your W/ H questions as often as possible. Students need to practice difficult reasoning puzzles from mock papers and books on reasoning. Solving puzzles from popular puzzle books available in bookstores will also help. Focus on lengthy puzzles on distribution involving lots of variables. You need to practice problem figures and mirror images.The section on Decision Making can be best practiced by going through the mock IBPS PO papers.

Tip 2. English Language and Composition: this section assess the applicants command over the English language. As this is a language naturally the grammar and comprehension skills are tested. The questions comprise of analogies, synonyms and antonyms, match the list, idioms, one word for many, fill in the blanks and identifying the various Figures of Speech which is a task for applicants.

Grammar: A useful tool to improve your language skills is by referring to Wren & Martin. This book is a perfect guide for improving your grammar as well as your comprehension skills because it has exercises and examples for each topic. It also comes with a Key that you can use to verify if your answers are correct.

Reading and Comprehension: you need to grab a copy of the Wren & Martin as soon as possible as it has very good examples for improving your comprehension skills. It has sample passages that contain questions on most of the aspects covered in the English section.

Build your Vocabulary: in order to improve your writing skills you need to have a good vocabulary because Précis or summary writing involves making use of few words to portray an elaborated idea or points discussed without changing the meaning in a concise manner. At such times you need to know words that can be used to portary many points or ideas, hence a good vocabulary is a must. Therefore make sure you refer to a dictionary and a thesaurus when you come across a word you do not understand.

Keep both a Dictionary and a Thesaurus with you: you can start by maintaining a diary or a book where you can jot down words that you are unfamiliar with as you read. Ensure that you have a dictionary and a thesaurus beside you at all times in any form you are comfortable with either in print, online, software. Look up words that you don’t understand and explore them by following the points listed below:

Note Down the Words or Phrases used

Try to use it in a sentence the same day

Look for the Prefixes (un, in) and Suffixes (al, ion, ness)

Explore the verb, noun, adjective and adverb forms

Find Antonyms and Synonyms

Pay attention to the pronunciations of words given beside the word

Access an online dictionary and hear the pronunciation of the word from the speakers

Practice the 4 Core skills: if you practice these four skills namely Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening then you will be able to gain that confidence. You need to read English books and newspapers, listen to English news and watch English sitcoms, movies with english subtitles if possible, converse with people who have a good command over the English language are some tips that will help you to gain confidence and develop a good command over the English Language. You can visit www.careerfutura.com for Ways to Improve English Vocabulary and Tips to Improve English for more tips.

Tip 3. Quantitative Ability: as the name suggests, this section deals with mathematical operations therefore your basics should be strong. The range of topics that are covered are Coding and Decoding, Syllogisms, Venn Diagrams, Number Series, Work, Time, Speed and Distance problems, Profit and Loss, Ratios, fractions, Simple Interest, Compound Interest, Average, Mensuration, Partnership, Bar Graphs and Pia Charts and Probability. Therefore it is essential to practice as many problems as you can to get acquainted with the types, formulas and form shortcuts for the same.

Tip 4. General Awareness: to be able to crack this section, your knowledge about the recent happenings in India and its surrounding Countries is important. Since this is a Banking examination it is obvious that you need to be familiar with the Banking terminologies, so it is preferable to focus on topics such as Ministers and Portfolios, Abbrevations, Top News in Business, Sports, Culture and Entertainment, Prominent Committees and their Heads, Bank rates, Rapo rateand reserve rapo rate, marginal standing facilities, GDP and RBI related questions, budget pertinate terms, interim and main budget, Indian ecaonomy (basic structure), Agriculture and it’s fact file, Rural Developmnnt reforem, various revolutions, Poverty and unemploymentAlleviation schemes (YOJANA) by governnment,Major projects and India’s leading Sectors and Organizations, Banking Histories (establishments and nationalizations), Important National and International celebrations and dates, currency names, Country names or symboles, awards and honours (Licterature, Sports, Service and Films) and current affairs (December 2012 – October 2013). Here are some other tips:

Reading newspapers, magazines (past issues from January 2012), journals, business and real estate suppliments in newspapers

visit Business and Reasl Estate websites

watch Educational channels that will boost your general knowledge

to improve your knowledge of India visit www.india.gov.in as it has information about the latest happenings in the country

pay attention to the main events in the corporate world

information about organizations /associations like the UN and its associate agencies such as ASEAN , SAARC , NATO , BRICS etc.

knowledge about the stocks and GK questions like countries, capitals, currencies, inventions and discoveries in science.

Tip 5. Computers: to crack this section a basic knowledge of Computers will suffice. You need to familiarise yourself with computer terminology. The topics that will be covered in this section are computer parts and their functions, basic internet and email control, MS.Office package (Word, Excel, Power Point etc.) Popular Software names and their usage, E – commerce, Computer Network. There may be theoretical and application based questions, Internet.

Tip 6. Practice: it is essential that students refer to previous years question papers and rely on mock tests, as this will make them familiar with the paper pattern and will give them an idea about the type of questions asked. Thus, students are better prepared for the examination.

Tip 7. Join Coaching classes: this will ensure that students practice regularly and are better prepared because they can resolve the queries that they might have about a particular topic.

Tip 8.Health Matters: it is important to ensure that you get enough rest, eat a balanced diet and most importantly exercise. It is important that you sleep in time, eat properly and exercise, if you wish to perform well in the examinations because both the body and the mind need to rest to function to its maximum potential.

Following these simple tips will assist you in your preparation for the IBPS CWE PO / MT examinations.

Most parents have trouble with trying to prevent their child from distractios such as I-pods, Smart phones, Tablets, Ebooks, video games, Play stations, Social Networking Sites, Televisions so on and so forth. While you try to ristrict your children from such distractions your attempts haven’t seen results. Then may be its time to try other alternatives. Some of the things that parents can do from therin end are ensure that there is a quiet place in the house for the child to study, keep technology related distraction away from their child, set limits, monitor their internet time , make suprise visits and keep tabs on their child, avoid the habit of all nighters, ensure that they take breaks at regular intervals and encourage them to exercise, sleep enough and eat properly.

1. Study Room: as a parent the least you can do for your child is to provide him / her with a room or a place that has limited distractions. Ensure that the study room is decorated accordingly if your child is going to be studying there. The room should be painted in colours that reflect light as against absorbing light. Make sure there is enough of ventilation, proper lighting in the room and is free from unwanted sound or noise.

2. Cell Phones: ensure that your child keeps their cell phone out of reach and instruct them to inform their friends not to disturb them while they are studying or ask them to switch it off instead.

3. Television distractions: make sure that there isn’t a television in your childs room as this is another distraction. If the television is in the hall and someone is watching while your child studies this can also distract your child due to the loud noise. But if no one is watching the television switch it off. Try not to watch anything if your child is studying in the next room.

4. Keep Tablets, I-Pods, Ebooks and Video Games away: ensure that you keep all these things away from your child and the study room while they are studying.

5. Set Limits: it is important that you limit the time spent for both Television Programs and Social Networking sites because these are more of a distraction to your kids. Give them a choice between the two. Tell them that they have an hour to either watch a program or spend on social networking sites and that they cannot have both.

6. Monitor your Child’s Internet surfing: most students like to look for ways to improve their memorizing power or seek easier ways to learn a topic at such times the internet is sometimes the best source and is fast so keeping your child away from it isn’t an alternative. Hence, give them a couple of hours to look for what they want but after that ensure that they get back to study.

7. Surprise Visits to the Study Room: at regular intervals check with them to see if they are studying or wasting time, when preparing a meal visit their study room with treats because they need to eat and chat a little to relax them and return back to work.

8. Keep Tabs on your Child: ask them at meal times about the amount of portion they have covered, find out if they ae having any difficulty in a particular subject as this tends to distract them also. If yes ask if you can help out in any way or find out the topics that they are finding tough.

9. Identify your Child’s Learning Style: it is essential for parents to identify their child’s learning style because children are bound to memorise the matter well if they are able to understand the topic and have the assurance that they will remember it. This also affects the performance and distractions.

10. Use Mnemonics: children can use memory improvement techniques to help them remember the points or the matter discussed under the topic. These are techniques that involve all the senses and forming associations to remember the matter well.

11. Use all Senses: several studies have found that making use of all the 5 senses while studying ensures that the matter is studied and learnt well so it is essential for children to make use of all their senses when studying.

12. Avoid All Nighters: when children decide to pull an all nighter it is preferable that they do not because it is the time the body is supposed to rest so chances of drowsiness and distractions are high. Besides just like the mind need to rest so does the body.

13. Encourage your Child to Exercise, eat well and sleep on time: studies indicate that exercise helps the body and the mind to relax thus it helps in memorising topics easily as it is fresh. Make sure that they eat a balanced diet and sleep on time instead of odd hours as all these factore have an impact on the child’s capacity and distractions.

14. Take breaks: parents should also ensure that their child takes 5 minute breaks after an hour or as the case may because apart from the ones already mentioned even these aspects play a role in their performance and can distract them as no one can study for long hours without taking breaks.

These are some things that can help parents prevent their child from getting distracted easily if followed. For more information you can visit our website www.careerfutura.com.

Identify your Child’s learning style: this will give you an insight into the most effective way in which your child is sure to perform well. Sometimes, the learning styles followed may be ineffective if that is not the way your child learns leading to distractions.

Learning Style followed: once you have identified your child’ s learning style look for ways that will help your child to learn better and accordingly the distraction of your child will reduce because the method that they use to study helps them memorise the topic well.

Use Mnemonics: sometimes studying can get boring at times like these using fun ways to learn can help in remembering the topic well. Mnemonics are memory improving techniques that involve the use of all the five senses and associations. When all the senses are used while studying it automatically prevents your child from getting distracted.

Study Groups: some children study better in groups so if they wish to go for a study group let them. If your child wishes to have a study group over welcome the idea but make sure that they are here to study and not to waste time. Studying together is a fun way to learn a topic thet is boring or difficult to understand.

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